Suzanne

When I started making purse straps I found that I added another layer of creativity to crochet purse-making. There was another dimension of choices when it came to colors (whether they should match or contrast the purse,) and shape. When I shared the straps, I knew that other crocheters would love the freedom of being able to design a complete project, choosing what they wanted it to look like from beginning to end. And creative women grabbed the idea and ran with it, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. Suzanne is the latest in a series of beautiful straps for purses and totes. Our second round strap.

Note 1- Since I wanted a short purse strap, I used I-cords that were 16" long. You can experiment with different lengths to obtain the size you want. This is definitely not a precise science!

Materials-
Worsted weight yarn in 4 colors of your choice (I used less than 1/2 skein of Red Heart worsted weight yarn in the following colors: Delft Blue, Paddy Green. Spring Green and Bright Yellow)
2 purse rings (I chose them gold but you can use any color you want, or use wooden ones if you prefer)
Crochet hook size H
3 Safety pins (medium or large)
Blunt needle
Pinning surface (the best one would be a large pillow or old cushion)

Note 2- You can make this braid using only one color, but it will not be as arresting as the one in four colors is.
Make your cords.

If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

To Make Suzanne, proceed as follows:
1- Run a safety pin across the 4 I-cords to join them, leaving about 1" of cord to sew around purse ring.
2- Use another safety pin to attach the now joined cords to your pillow or cushion.
3- Mentally number your cords 1, 2, 3 and 4, from right to left.
3- Separate the cords as follows: Stretch each one of your cords in a diagonal direction, as if you were trying to make a letter V with the first 2 working cords, which will be cord #1 and cord #4.
Form an Inverted V with cords #2 and #3. While working, always move in a diagonal pattern.

Braid Suzanne, proceed as follows:

1- Bring cord #4 to where cord #2 is and position cord # 2 where cord #4 was.
2- Bring cord #3 where cord #1 is and take cord #1 where cord #3 was.
Repeat these 2 steps for cord. Give it a little tug as you go, if necessary. When you reach about an inch of the way down, run the last safety pin across the top of the strap to secure your work and then fasten off and sew strap ends around purse rings.

Done!

Pathlights. . .Worthwhile exploring!

Tazia

This is another lovely strap that you could use for a tote or if you want it shorter, for a handbag.You can end the strap just by sewing the ends to the bag, or by bending the ends around a purchased purse ring and sewing the ends onto the strap itself on the back.
Materials-
Worsted weight yarn of your own choice in 4 colors (or at least 2 different colors,) I chose two shades of orange, a green and a yellow. You will need at least 1/2 skein of each color

Crochet hook size H
Pinning surface
Pins
2 Large safety pins
Scissors

►To make Tazia, proceed as follows:
First, make your crocheted I-cords or ropes.

If you don't know how to make the ropes, please refer to this tutorial:

How to Make Crochet I-Cord Ropes

►Note 1- This strap begins flat but then turns into a round, woven cord to make the flat knots you will need to pin the ropes of I-cord to a pinning surface, but to work the round part, you will not need the pinning surface anymore.
Leaving about an inch of crocheted I-cord at the top, take one of the large safety pins and pass it through each one of the 4 crocheted ropes, joining them all into a bundle. Attach the top of the "waste" cord to the pinning surface and begin to work.
Once your ropes are made. attach them to your pinning surface. Pin your ropes as follows: the two from one color on the edges (positions 1 and 4, and the two on the contrasting color, in the middle.) Mentally count your ropes 1, 2, 3 and 4 from left to right.
►Bend rope 4 over the two middle ones and under rope 1. Bend rope 1 around the back of the two middle  ropes and over the loop formed by rope 4 when you bent it, now pass the end of rope 1 towards the back into the loop formed by rope 4. Tighten it. Repeat this twice.
►Note 2- When you tighten, it is important that you hold down the middle ropes with one hand while you pull on the others with your other hand, so that the tightening will be even. Also, when you tighten the side ropes (ropes 1 and 4) do it in a horizontal direction.
Once you make these 2 flat knots, you are ready to begin the round part of the strap. Take off the pins and detach the ropes from the pinning surface.

To make the round section of the strap proceed as follows:
►Note 3- At this point, it is optional to add the second safety pin to secure the round portion of the strap while you work on the last 2 flat knots.
►Lay the bundle of cords on the safety pin that holds them and, ignoring the little ends you left for sewing the strap to purse rings, spread the 4 ropes in the four directions of the compass.
►Now, take the rope that is lying in the direction of "UP" and bring it down where the one in the direction of "Down" is, and take the one that was Down and put it where the one that was Up was located.
►Now take the rope that lies to the Right and pass it over to where the one on the Left is, and take the one on the Left and put it where the one on the Right used to be.
►Repeat this process until you have reached almost the end of your strap (you have to eyeball this, it is not a precise science.)
►Repeat the two flat knots you made at the beginning, leaving just enough rope ends to be able to sew the strap around the purse rings you have chosen for your purse. Remove safety pins and sew strap ends to purse rings as usual. Fasten off, weave in tails.
Done!

Pathlights. . .Worthwhile exploring!